View allAll Photos Tagged gettycontributor
For some reason I haven't seen too many bees around for a couple of weeks, but I spotted this one in my neighbour's garden on her beautiful bleeding heart vine.
Another photo from our outing the other day. Taken with my Tamron 150-600 lens without the filter attached. I completely forgot to try some with the filter on to compare whether it makes any difference to the photos. I googled and found a site which identifies them as Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea)
We went for a walk around a lake in Shepparton and while we were feeding the ducks, this Malamute decided to go for a swim. He was quite interested in the ducks for a while, but the ducks soon moved on.
We got up early this morning to go on an early morning game drive. The light was beautiful and we came across a group of Waterbuck standing in the long grass.
Our holiday is now coming to an end - only four more nights and we will be homeward bound.
Christmas Eve is almost over here in Australia (two minutes to go). I would like to wish all my friends a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
The fairies had to beat a hasty retreat on this side of the log because the lichen seed pods were on the march.
When I saw the seed pods on screen I thought of the Martians in the latest War of the Worlds movie.
Yeah, I know, only I could equate seed pods with Martians!
Shane has just asked me why I was putting this photo on Flickr for my dad's birthday, and the answer is simple, because I like it!
So, Happy Birthday to my father Peter, who at 79, and despite nodding off once in a while at his Masonic Meetings, is still going strong.
Love you Dad!
EXPLORED AND A VERY FAST EXPLORE! no.2
A friend gave me a cutting of this plant on the weekend which I have put in the garden. I hope it grows - I love them. It is an abutilon megapotamicum (trailing Abutilon).
We stopped at a lookout over one of the dams in Kruger and there were a few Vervet monkeys hanging around the picnic tables. This particular one found some sugar scattered on the tables.
During our drive around Scotland we stopped to see some Highland cattle. The sheep were on top of the hill and they came racing down to see if we had anything for them.
We are in Hervey Bay until tomorrow and I am finding the humidity is playing havoc with the dermatitis that erupted after my stint in hospital. The itch is becoming unbearable - hope the antihistamines kick in soon. I am itching from the tips of my fingers to my feet it is so uncomfortable.
This is my photo for the 52 in 2015 Challenge - #51 - Backlit. Even though we are well into Winter, my neighbour's tree still has some Autumn colour, which is lovely to look at. It is cold and wet today - a good day to stay inside.
I love Bumble Bees and whilst we have them in a couple of places in Australia, I don't see them much. We saw so many during our travels around the UK.
Another photo from our drive to Mt. Wilson yesterday. The leaves were beautiful, but I think in another week, they would be spectacular. I wonder if I can talk Peter into another drive LOL.
I am feeling much better this morning, but still not full of energy. Other long distance travellers know the feeling of going to bed so tired, but waking up at 3 a.m. and not being able to go back to sleep - I was so full of energy then. I did eventually fall back to sleep and didn't want to get up at 8.30 LOL.
We are now off to explore Hong Kong.
I have decided to join Nina on her challenge to add a flower photo a day for 365 days.
www.flickr.com/photos/21560098@N06/
Still resting my hand today so I may not be able to leave comments, but I will be looking at your photos.
I came across a small herd of Highland cattle in a field at Invermoriston. They were all being rather lazy and although I waited for a while, none of them would stand up for photos. I didn't see the little baby laying in the grass at first.
I was tossing up about posting this photo as I took it last week and didn't think it was now relevant.
Silly me, of course it is relevant because now the Queen's Baton is trotting round Wales, England and Scotland before being presented to the Queen at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in July.
Inside the baton (a bit like the Olympic Torch) is a message that the Queen popped in which she will then read at the opening.
Shane and I were at Carrick-a-reed at the crack of dawn for the start of its journey in Northern Ireland and were extremely surprised that aside from the official party, a couple of police officers, a BBC reporter and camera man, we were the only two actually there to witness the event.
We didn't go down to the bridge because it is quite a long walk and I now have to walk with a walking stick (visions of me falling arse over tit as its a rough trail), so instead went to where I think is a much better view.
Got to give Clive "Thistle", the official mascot of the Games a big pat on the back because crossing the rope bridge is hairy enough at the best of times without having to wear a costume that gives one limited vision.
At least there wasn't any wind as even a half way decent breeze can start rocking the bridge.
Once upon a time, when the Atlantic Salmon were plentiful and did their yearly run to their spawning ground, fisherman used to hole up on the Island.
Back then, in the early part of the 19th Century, the bridge only used to have one piece of rope and only on one side for the fishermen to cling on to AND, they would be carrying their nets, provisions and even two man boats.
Breed them tough in Northern Ireland!!
I am soooo ticked off because my Lupus has gone into overdrive since Christmas and I am now extremely limited in what I can do. In the thirty plus years I have had Lupus, this is the first time I have had such an extended period of going downhill and its been a very scary time for me.
Oh well, not dead yet and and when the time comes and I am unable to walk, I can always cause havoc on a mobility scooter!
WHOO HOO EXPLORED NO. 86 WHAT A LOVELY WELCOME BACK TO FLICKR
This was my last shot of the morning and its actually my fave image.
Just looking through my photos from the other morning, its astonishing how, in the space of an hour, the light changed constantly and so rapidly.
I have photographed this chap and his yacht several times now, as he moors on the River Bann which is another place I seem to haunt.
I was delighted to see him sailing round the headland, although he took his time getting into the position that I wanted him in as he sailed right up to the Skerries.
I thought to myself, if he has a camera I am going to spit chips because the island was positively heaving with birds.
Pity there wasn't any wind as having his sails up would have looked even better.
Beyond the Skerries there was actually a thick mist, which I rather liked as it softened the cliffs and made the light the focal point.
Mind, he could have made a teensy weeny detour and picked me up (we are actually on waving terms), as I would have loved to see the Skerries up close.
Think I will have to send him a message in a bottle and float it on the River Bann!!
EXPLORED NO. 217
We had a fabulous, FABULOUS holiday in Scotland, and I normally don't put up a photo from a particular shoot unless I have processed them all.
We have been back a fortnight and I am still ploughing through them as I took over 5000 shots!!
Scotland's decision to say no to independence was the excuse I needed to start posting.
The inscription on the front of this Royal Marine Commando statue is "UNITED WE CONQUER" and I would have put up a front facing photo, but this particular one is my fave.
I thought United We Conquer was very apt for Scotland's historical decision.
The Royal Marine Commando's were formed late in WWII and the chaps that were chosen for this unit were literally dropped into the Ben Nevis Range (where the UK's highest mountain is)to start their intensive training.
The statues actually face the point where they were dropped off and I believe the Royal Marines still use this area for training.
We were here on a Summer's day and as you can see it looks very menacing.
I have been all over the World, but the weather in the Highlands of Scotland changes faster than anything I have seen.
As well as the statues there is a memorial garden for those that have served with this unit. It made me cry seeing all the youngsters that have fallen.
Anyway, I am back and with some gorgeous shots to be posted of the Highlands.
This is a beautiful ornament I bought for myself this year - I couldn't resist it. It is a musical ornament and plays a variety of Christmas carols as Santa and his reindeers fly across the sky. It is about 8 inches round in the shape of a ball, so not small - a lovely addition to my Christmas treasures.
I was walking along a path to visit a hide in Pilanesberg Game Park when I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. When I looked, I saw it was this hare who thought if it stood still, I mightn't see it.
This is some more of my African photos - still so many to go through.
I have been busy for a couple of days and have been looking but not commenting - I am back on track now.
This is my photo for the group 52 in 2014 - #39 Portrait. This is her new little bear that I made - you can see that it was a hit. I wish I had seen that she had chocolate around her mouth before I took the photo LOL.
The other day I sat in a hide by myself for three hours. There was not much action, but I did see three lots of Impala come down to drink. Later that evening I heard that there is a leopard roaming around adjoining properties which has killed some of the owner's dogs. I am not sure that I feel comfortable sitting alone in the middle of nowhere anymore, although I have been assured that they don't normally roam during the day.
This is a photo taken near Lower Sabie in Kruger National Park. We always drove across the bridge that takes you towards Satara to see what was in the water and we always saw either hippos or elephants and sometimes buffalo. By the look of it the larger hippo has been in a few battles
This is my photo for the 52 in 2016 challenge - #11 - Vehicle.
We drove down the New England Highway from Queensland to Inverell and saw this large rock formation called Bluff Rock near Tenterfield. We also followed many large semi-trailers which was okay on the straight, but hard going when they were going up hills with no place to pass them.
As it is officially the 26th January, 2016 here in Australia - here is my Australia Day photo.
Australia Day is on January 26 and commemorates the establishment of the first European settlement at Port Jackson, now part of Sydney, in 1788. It is an opportunity for Australians to come together to celebrate their country and culture. There are reflections on the achievements of the nation and explorations of way to make the country even better in the future.
It is a funny day in Sydney today. One minute the sun is shining and the next it looks like rain. The wind is blowing a gale as well, so no chance of going out into the garden for macro photos. This is one from just before we went on our two week holiday. I have been playing with my 50D lately and it still surprises me with the quality of photos.
This is for my friend Lynn who is not well and spending some time in hospital.
One of my photos has been used in an on line newspaper. I was asked a while ago if this photo could be used and after some thought I decided to go ahead with the request. They have written the article a bit out of context, but it is still a fun story, even though some of the comments are a bit of a worry LOL.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2653475/Come-dine-Touris...
We walked along Vincents pier at Scarborough and found this lighthouse with this lovely statue in front of it. I am not sure what the statue represents, but it did have a plaque in memory of a few people at the base.
Lighthouse and Diving Belle The statue, erected in 2007, is one of a pair. Its counterpart, the Bathing Belle, is situated in the Westborough shopping precinct.
I have decided to join Nina on her challenge to add a flower photo a day for 365 days.
www.flickr.com/photos/21560098@N06/
I am so late coming in to Flickr tonight (a busy day) so I won't be able to add comments tonight. I am adding another flower from my neighbour's garden that I took yesterday and I will catch up with everyone in the morning.
This is my photo for the group 52 in 2014 - #51 Daisy. I couldn't resist buying this beautiful African Daisy the other day at a local nursery - I love the deep, rich colour.
I have decided to join Nina on her challenge to add a flower photo a day for 365 days.
www.flickr.com/photos/21560098@N06/
I will also add this to the 52 weeks of photos challenge - week 26 UP (up in the air LOL).
We have one more day in Kruger and we have seen the "Big 5". The weather has been quite hot the last few days so I am surprised that the animals have been so active.
I have decided to join Nina on her challenge to add a flower photo a day for 365 days.
www.flickr.com/photos/21560098@N06/
I didn't see many Teddy Bear bees this Summer and when I did, they were too fast for photos. Here is one from a while back.
I am babysitting four of my grandchildren tonight. Peter is away for a few days and I usually have them over for a night. That way they only have me telling them "go to sleep" and not both of us - Peter gets a little carried away LOL.
Yesterday afternoon Peter walked down to the park at the end of our street (about 100 mts), to see how the creek was going after all the rain. He came back and told me to bring my camera. I was amazed at the destruction - the bridge from our side of the park to the other has been flattened and is covered with broken trees and branches. I am not sure if the bridge is still there under the debris as I saw that one rail was completely gone and the other broken and twisted. I have never seen it like this in the 43 years that I have been living here.
I have decided to join Nina on her challenge to add a flower photo a day for 365 days.
www.flickr.com/photos/21560098@N06/
I was taking some photos of this Gerbera in my neighbour's garden when I spotted this little black shape under the petals. On closer inspection, I found it was a baby preying mantis.
Ilulissat Icefjord was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 because of its natural beauty and the importance of the fast-moving Jakobshavn Glacier in developing the current scientific understanding of anthropogenic climate change.
#sermermiut #diskobay #illulisat #icefjord #iceberg #hiking #greenland #madewithlightroom #travelphotography #traveldeeper #sgtraveller #flickr #smugmug #gettycontributor #lonelyplanet #natgeotravel #bbctravel #fujifilmsg #fujifilmphotography #unesco #unescoworldheritage
I found these photos in my archives - I had forgotten all about them.
Four of my grandchildren had a "sleepover" last night so not much time for Flickr. I will catch up with everyone later tonight.
I have decided to join Nina on her challenge to add a flower photo a day for 365 days.
www.flickr.com/photos/21560098@N06/
Another beautiful Poppy that I found blooming in the Sydney Botanical Garden.
We found this Cicada on the grass yesterday and Peter put it on one of our grass trees. We googled and found that it is a Cherry Nose Cicada - you can see why LOL.
This is one that I found in the archives and ran an action called Earthy tones by LustDrunk Technicolor.
We went for a drive today to Mt. Wilson to see if there was any Autumn colour. We have had a few cold nights and I didn't want to leave it to much later in the month in case I missed the changing leaves. I probably could have left it a couple of weeks, but there was still plenty of colour happening.